Box Score

Photo Gallery (images by Austin McKeon)

San Francisco, CA -- The Urban Knights came painfully close to victory for the second time in as many weeks, after Saturday night's game slipped through their grasp at Kezar Pavilion against Menlo. Ameer Shamsud-din had another 20-point night for Academy of Art, and Noah Koné-Nelson had a career night, putting up 19 points. The game stayed close throughout, with the Urban Knights having a chance to send it to overtime or even go ahead in the final minute, but some key calls late gave the Oaks the advantage they would need for a 72-67 victory.

The Knights shot the lights out, going 31-for-63 from the field for a shooting percentage just under 50%, but Menlo's ability to get to the free throw line ended up being the difference in the game. Tim Tatum carried the Oaks throughout the game, especially down the stretch as he scored 21 in the second half, including more than half from the free-throw line (11). 

Academy of Art jumped out to a quick lead, going up 7-2 after a layup by Shamsud-din, and dominated for a majority of the first half. A layup by Koné-Nelson put ART U up 30-19 with just under seven minutes to go in the opening period, but in the final four minutes, the Oaks made five straight from beyond the arc to spark a 15-to-2 run and Menlo went in to the break up 38-34. 

But the Urban Knights took off in the second half, going on a 7-0 run to start off the second period and forcing a timeout by Menlo. Both teams battled it out from there, and although the last tie in the game was at 43-43, the Oaks never pulled away from ART U. At one point the visitors pushed the lead to eight  at 60-52, but the Knights got it within one at 64-63 with 2:57 left to go. Another layup by Shamsud-din made it 68-67 with 50 seconds to go. Malik Dunbar missed the second free throw and gave the Urban Knights the ball with a chance to go ahead in the last 30 seconds. Then followed a pair of key turnovers and a couple missed jumpers that sealed the deal for the visiting Oaks. 

The Urban Knights will have a week before their next match, as they'll play Simon Fraser (British Columbia) in the program's first ever trip to Canada.